Posted to Ontario Barn Preservation – Spring Barn Fashion

This is the post I wrote about clothing choices for barn wear, for the Ontario Barn Preservation newsletter, March 2023.

Thinking About… Spring Barn Fashion

One thing you may not spend time really thinking about… barn fashion. But, here we are, approaching another Spring and you might need to consider fashion, or at least function.

First, you might avoid open toed shoes.… Read the rest

Why Add Hoods to Sweatshirts?

I like sweatshirts, they’re comfortable, usually warm, and easy to wash. But, why do they add hoods to them? The hoods pull down on the back and leave the back of my neck cold. I try different things, like rolling it up and pulling the string tight to keep it from dragging down my back. I’ve tried stuffing it inside down the back.… Read the rest

What is the Best White Elephant Gift?

Do you know what a white elephant is?

A white elephant is something you’d like to get rid of, its not useful and usually too expensive to use or keep. People sometimes have white elephant gift exchanges, like re-gifting, presents they have been given and would like to get rid of, graciously. The idea is to try finding someone who will love, or at least like, the extravagant, and not useful to most people, gift.… Read the rest

Make Your Own Road Trip Kit

I’m an urban, rural and industrial explorer. Mainly, I venture out, trying various roads in rural Ontario and look for abandoned houses, old buildings  ghost signs, stone flowers, and other interesting (and usually old) things which I then photograph.

As an explorer I take along a few things, travel light is always a good idea. So I bring my map book, better shoes than sandals and my camera.… Read the rest

Manhole Covers as Urbex Fashion

Looking for something really urbex to wear? Consider a print of a manhole cover. This site has a project creating prints from manhole (sewer) covers. There are events and workshops. You could make your own.

Raubdruckerin uses drain covers as a printing module for textiles and paper. By pressing a garment on a drain cover coated with paint, the surface is being transferred as a graphical pattern onto the desired object.

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Imagine the Long, Lost Journal Found

What does a journal look like? If you found the long, lost journal of long dead explorer, what would you expect it to look like? I see it as leather, beat up, dark cover and dirty, weather beaten held together with string or something else found along the way. What if it were the journal of a dentist?… Read the rest

If That’s Life, I Guess I’ve Had It

I wrote this about my Dad, so long ago I had forgotten about it. Originally published to BackWash.com on May 28, 2004 and written when my Dad died.

My Dad would sometimes say, “If that’s supper, I guess I’ve had it.” This past week after his death that phrase has caught in my mind only I’ve adapted it to, “If that’s life, I guess I’ve had it.”

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